Circuit breaker



June 16, 1925.

W. L. LARSON CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed June '7,

m a I l I l l l l c m l I u p l l u Il.. il lli W. Z l 'ans o 7;

INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented `lune 16, 1925.

UNITED .STATES WILHELM L. LARSON, OF OSLO,

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Application filed June 7,

Oslo in the county of Marshall and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Im rovements 1n CIrcuIt Breakers, of

' which t e following is a specification.

- This invention relates tol improvements In electric generators.

An object of the present invention is the f provision of means for automatically stopping the operation of' a generator in theevent of interruption of flow of current between the generator and another electric device, for example, a battery, whereby burning of the generator windings will be prevented, the invention being especially useful upon automobiles. l

Another'object of the invention isfthe provision of akdevice for this purpose, which may be readily adjusted so that operation of the generator may be again resumed, when desired.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention `further includes the -following novel features and details ofv construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the invention with the cover removed and showing the position of the parts during normal y flow of current.

Figure 2`is a similar view showing the position of the p rts whenoperation of the generator has been interrupted.

Figure 3 is a view at right angles to Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of thesame.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corres nding parts, the reference character 11 in icates the circuit breaker which constitutes the present invention.

This circuit breaker comprises an insulating base 12 and a cover 13, which may be removably secured thereto in any desired manner. Located within the cover 13 and secured to the base 12 is an electromagnet having oneteiminal of'its winding 14 connected to a bindin post 15, while the opposite terminall of t e said winding is connected to a plate 16 which is secured toa-the end of the magnet and which has extending therefrom an arm 17, the latter being proi vided with an offset portion 18.

1922. serial No. 566,515.

The outer end of the arm. 17 has pivotally connected thereto as shown at 19 a substantially L- shaped lever one arm of which is bifurcated 00 to provide spaced parallelI arms 20, while the opposite arm 21 is movable into and out of contact with the offset portion 18 of the arm 17, the said oiset portion serving to limit the pivotal movement of the'lever 20l 05 in one direction.

Pivotally secured between the spaced parallel arms 20 of the L-shaped lever as shown at 22 is a contact arm 23, whose free end is adapted to engage a stationary contact 24 mounted upon t e base 12, being secured to the said base as by a binding post 25. The bifureated arm of the L-shaped lever is connected to the contact arm 23 by means of a spring 26, herein shown as a coiled spring, the connection between this spring and the contact arm 23 being of a flexible character, as `indicated at 2T. The purpose of this form of connection 27is to permit of thelatter being bent, whereby the 8 tension of the spring 26 may bel regulated. When the pivotal connection 22 is moved to either side of the center, the spring 26 will lfunction to hold thearm 23 and its connected lever against accidental movement.

The connection 22between the arm 23 vand the bifurcated end of the lever ispreferably in the form of a link 28 and also connected to this link is one end of an armature 29, the

o posite end of which has a flexible connectlon 30 with an extension 31 atone end of the electro ma et. VExtending from the contact arm 23 1s a rod or finge-r 32, which projects through an opening in the armature 29 and has, its extremit bent to form.95 a stop 33, whereby outwar movement of the contact arm' 23 will be limited.`

The binding post 15 is connected by means of a conductor with one of two armature brushes of the generator, while the other 10 "binding post 25 is connected by a conductor of the winding or said brush, so that when the generator is operated, current will pass from the brush through the conductor, the

binding post 25, the stationary contact 24, i

the contact arm 23, the L-shaped lever, the pivoted arm 17, the plate 16, the winding 14, the binding post 15, the other conductor to the field winding of 'the generator.

When "the generator is connected to a storage. battery in the usual manner, current will flow through the winding 11 und as this current will pass into the battery, its strength will not be sufficient td energize the electromagnet and the armature 39 will not be attracted, so that the parts will remain in the position shown in Figure 2. Itfor any reason current ceases to flow from the generator to the battery, it will build up in the winding 14 sufficiently to energize the magnet and the armature 14 will then be attracted and the pivot 22 moved to the opposite side of the center. The tension of: the spring 26 will then cause the free end of the contact arm 23 to move away from the stationary contact 24, so that How of current will cease, and operation of the armature stop. This will prevent damage to the gen erator diie to current backing up in the field windings. "When it is desired to again operate the generator, the arm 21 will be forced downward into contact with the oif set portion 18 of thel hinged arm 17 to move the pivot 22 upon the opposite side of the center and cause the free end of the contact arm 23 to engage the stationary' contact 24. The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall Within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:-

A circuit breaker comprising an electromagnet, a stationary contact arranged alongside the magnet, an armature also disposed alongside the magnet and interposed between same and stationary contact, a plate connected to and extending from one end of the magnet, an L-shaped lever pivotally mounted on said plate, a Contact arm for cooperation with the stationary contact, a link on the armature and pivotally connected to the L-shaped lever and the contact arm, a linger on the contact arm and eX- tending through an opening in the armature and. having a stop portion arranged to cooperate With the armature and a retractil@ spring interposed between and connected to the contact arm and the L-shaped lever.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

VILHELM L. LARSON. 

